Facts

Appearance of the Allen's Hummingbird

Adult male Allen's Hummingbirds look very similar to the Rufous Hummingbird — with the exception of the Allen’s green back and crown.

The Allen’s hummingbird has a copper-red throat patch known as a gorget (named after the protective metallic neck gears worn by warriors, pre-18th century). Their red tail feathers are tipped in black, and their wings emit a metallic whine when in flight.

Adult females and juvenile Allen’s hummingbirds are hard to distinguish from Rufous hummingbirds. Typically they have iridescent green backs with dull red bellies and a white throat. Female Allen's hummingbirds often sport a red central throat patch or a smaller gorget than that of the adult male Allen's hummingbird.